Nektar Announces Start of Enrollment in Phase 2 Study of NKTR-181

Nektar Therapeutics NKTR announced today that the first patient has been enrolled in a Phase 2 clinical study of NKTR-181, a new, first-of-its-kind, opioid analgesic candidate. NKTR-181 is a novel mu-opioid agonist molecule designed to have a slow rate of entry into the brain to reduce the attractiveness of the molecule as a target of abuse and to reduce other CNS-mediated side effects, such as sedation and respiratory depression. The Phase 2 study will utilize a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized withdrawal study design to assess the efficacy, safety and tolerability of NKTR-181 in patients with moderate to severe chronic pain from osteoarthritis of the knee. Approximately 200 patients will be randomized to receive either NKTR-181 or placebo in the study.